Codee Schlipf made a nifty spin move in the low post to score 50 seconds into the second quarter Saturday. It put El Paso-Gridley ahead of Walther Lutheran by a point. The Titans did not trail the rest of the night to claim a 55-46 decision and place third at the Class 2A state girls’ basketball finals.

“We had to be disciplined. We had to have effort 100 percent of the time,” EPG head coach Kyle Bobbitt said. “That’s why we’re ending with a win and taking home the third-place trophy.”

The season concluded like it started, with a victory. This one completed the journey for a team that set a school record for wins in a season.

“It was a good experience. You can’t get better than the state finals,” Schlipf said after the victory. “And to end it on a win, not too many people can say they ended it on a win.”

Schlipf’s basket completed a comeback from an early deficit that reached five points in the first quarter. Although the Broncos stayed with EPG, even forging two ties in the second quarter, the Titans were able to maintain a slight edge and take a 21-19 lead into the break.

“The first half we weren’t playing as hard as we thought we should,” EPG senior Jenna Souhrada said. “In the locker room we said, ‘this is it. We have 16 more minutes to play, especially our seniors.’ We wanted it bad so we were going to give it all we had the last 16 minutes.”

A third-quarter surge was the difference for the Titans. They were able to put together an 8-0 run midway through the quarter to establish a 33-23 lead.

“We’re an up-tempo team and we pick our spots,” Bobbitt said. “We made plays when we needed them.”

The spurt took a minute and had four different players finding the hoop. Schlipf started the run and Chelsea Kessinger added a free throw. Rebekah Ehresman scored on a fast break with Souhrada, and then added a free throw moments later, with 3:05 to go in the period.

Michelle Bigger hit from the baseline to complete the run. This came after Souhrada grabbed a missed free throw form Ehresman.

EPG was able to put the game away by not allowing Walther Lutheran any runs in the final frame. The only noise the Broncos made in the second half was a 5-1 spurt late in the game that cut the deficit to 49-40 with 2:11 remaining.

Page 2 of 2 - In a show of respect for his seniors, Bobbitt put all four — Kessinger, Souhrada, Darian DeVary and Mattie Buchanan on the floor together for the final 12.3 seconds.

Buchanan took the final shot for herself and her classmates, making the basket on a put-back as time expired.

“It was an amazing feeling. We’ve played basketball since we were little, since bitty ball, altogether,” Kessinger said. “It was great to end our career on the floor together. It was an awesome feeling.”

Nashville won the state title with a 42-29 upset win over top-ranked St. Thomas More. In Class 1A, Freeport Aquin repeated as state champ by getting past Mt. Pulaski 55-46. Annawan took third with a 47-37 victory over Cowden-Herrick.